Ajax have announced this afternoon that their midfielder Abdelhak Nouri has severe and permanent brain damage following his collapse while playing Werder Bremen in a pre-season friendly.
The 20-year-old was treated on the field after collapsing and the game was abandoned.
Ajax took to Twitter this morning to confirm the news.
#Ajax are deeply saddened by the news that Appie Nouri has been diagnosed with serious and permanent brain damage... (1/2)#StayStrongAppie
— AFC Ajax (English) (@AFCAjax_EN) July 13, 2017
Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his loved ones in this difficult time. (2/2)#StayStrongAppie
— AFC Ajax (English) (@AFCAjax_EN) July 13, 2017
In the 72nd minute of the game in Hippach, Nouri, who has represented the Netherlands at all ages from U15, lay down on his back inside the Bremen half in clear discomfort.
Ambulances and paramedics then tended to him on the pitch, with a screen drawn around him.
Club director of football and former Manchester United goalkeeper, Edwin Van der Sar later reiterated that the worst had passed for Nouri, one of Ajax's most promising talents.
"It could have been worse. At a certain point it took so long, you're thinking of something really worse since his legs weren't moving at all."
"His family and friends will come over tomorrow (Sunday). We will support them in every way possible".
However and unfortunately, severe and permanent brain damage was confirmed this afternoon.
